It’s been found that 69 percent of today’s consumers prefer sales associates to have a smart device, like a tablet or smartphone, to teach them about what they’re buying. This is no different in the field service industry.
So what are you arming your salespeople with in the field? Antiquated paper catalogs and tedious forms? If the answer is yes, it’s time to consider a rugged tablet.
If you haven’t explored the idea of upgrading your techs with modern equipment, then you’ll need to start with a few basic questions. How much will it cost? How durable are the tablets? Can they be feasibly integrated into your business?
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Why Do You Need a Rugged Tablet for Field Work?
The thought of providing your techs with a delicate piece of equipment may be disconcerting, but with rugged tablets, fears about durability should be the furthest thing from your mind. They’re built for sustainability and in-field work.
Rugged tablets also provide excellent connectivity while withstanding the demands of the field.
Here’s why you should consider investing in rugged devices for your business:
Durable
When you hear the word “tablet,” you probably think of how fragile they are. In your line of work, it’s hard to justify using such delicate equipment on a regular basis.
Let’s face it, field work is messy, destructive and can be downright dangerous. Having a brand-new iPad Pro on a dingy job site is enough to give some tech lovers an anxiety attack. But the best rugged Android tablet for business isn’t necessarily the best tablet for your business. So, what's the alternative?
Rugged tablets are made to take abuse. Most of them have ingress protection, and they are resistant to extreme temperatures, dustproof, and watertight. In fact, it’s not difficult to find a model that is water-resistant enough to be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes without skipping a beat.
These machines are also created to be dropped. Most rugged tablets can fall from several feet (or more) without breaking.
Reliable
The typical enterprise tablet has an 18 percent failure rate, but ruggedized tablets have a failure rate of 4 percent. If a typical tablet is a Kia, let’s just call a rugged tablet a military-ready Humvee. And a Humvee might be exactly what you need.
Consumer-friendly
We’ve already touched on consumers’ expectations with regard to technology and sales.
When someone is selling them something, and this includes service techs trying to sell them a new HVAC unit or water heater, they want their salesperson to educate them on their purchase.
According to Tracey Fennell, Accounting Manager with Great Dane HVAC in Clinton Township, Mich., one of the biggest benefits of using rugged tablets is being able to show and explain to customers what they’re buying and why they need it.
When sales staff are knowledgeable, 88 percent of consumers say they’re more likely to buy.
Arming them with a rugged tablet is a great way to increase their ability to showcase that knowledge and help consumers make an educated decision about an important purchase.
Tablets for business, in general, are a great way to go paperless. Customers love using digital forms that can be emailed to them instead of a pile of paper that ends up cluttering their home.
With in-field tablets your technicians also remain connected to the cloud-based online tools that drive your business. Access to field service apps through your tablets enable more connectivity to the business and vital information customers may need.
Techs can review client history on the spot, impress customers with unique forms to help them with unique requests, and take advantage of any information that you keep on-hand at the office. It’s the perfect solution to helping your sales leaders arrive on-site with everything they need at the tip of their fingers.
Affordable
Rugged tablets start at a few hundred dollars and can cost in the thousands if you buy a top-of-the-line, military-grade model. What’s affordable and right for one company might not be for others.
The important thing is to consider what features you need and choose a rugged tablet in your budget with all or most of those features.
There’s no use buying a tablet for business with every bell and whistle if you only plan to use it for filling out forms and staying in touch with your techs.
Great Dane HVAC believes their investment in rugged tablets for their techs has been well worth the cost. The way their communication has improved, both with their techs and customers, is priceless.
There are many rugged tablets suitable for field service on the market today.
So many, in fact, it can be difficult to determine which have the features you need and want, and which simply aren’t worth the investment. Here are a few of our top picks for the best rugged tablets for field service.
Best Rugged Tablets for Field Service Technicians
Here’s a breakdown of some of the best rugged tablets for field work:
Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme
Panasonic Toughbook G2
Getac F110
Zebra ET40 Rugged Tablet
Oukitel Rt2
While any of these options are solid selections for a field service business, knowing which one is best for your business will come down to a few key factors.
1. Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme
Built to withstand 4-foot drops and military tested, the Rugged Extreme is a reliable in-field laptop choice. At $1,299, this rugged laptop isn’t exactly cheap but lands on the more budget-friendly side, without sacrificing quality.
The Rugged Extreme totes a strong helping of RAM (16GB) to enable speed and efficiency. The decent storage space (256GB) is also a great benefit for a business with bustling schedules, but the short battery life (3 hours) may leave your crews searching for charges in-between jobs.
Price: $1,299
Battery life: 3 hours
Weight: 3 pounds
Memory: 16GB RAM
Storage: 256GB
2. Panasonic Toughbook G2
At a base price of $2,999, the Toughbook G2 is almost twice the price of the Rugged Extreme, but it also comes with twice the functionality. While this fully rugged tablet 2-in-1 isn’t indestructible, it’s built to survive rain and drops from shoulder height, making it a top choice for first responders and field service personnel.
Panasonic touts the G2’s 36 different feature combinations to deliver the ultimate computing experience, including infrared webcams and biometric user authentication. With great durability and even greater storage capacity, the G2 is truly a rugged laptop built to last.
Price: $2,999
Battery life: 18.5 hour battery life
Weight: 2.9 pounds
Memory: 16GB
Storage: 512GB
3. Getac F110
For $2,579 the F110 provides a strong balance of durability and usability. Built with the Android operating system, the F110 can withstand a wide range of abuse. Beyond being designed to reduce scratching or screen abrasions, the F110 is also resistant to shock, spill, vibration, and can handle drops up to five feet without damage or disruption.
Price: $2,579
Battery life: 14 hours
Weight: 3 pounds
Memory: 8GB for base model
Storage: 256GB
4. Zebra ET40 Rugged Tablet
The ET40 is considered an entry-level tablet. It’s built to be more consumer friendly at prices ranging from $700-$800, depending on the seller. The tablet operates on Android 11, providing bluetooth and WiFi 6, with the ET45 using a SIM slot for 5G LTE.
The ET40 remains a great choice for getting your teams started with in-field tablets. The rugged tablet is still as durable as higher-end options, able to withstand 4 feet of drops to concrete.
Price: $700-$800
Battery life: Varies
Weight: 1.52 pounds
Memory: 4GB at base model
Storage: 128 GB
5. Oukitel RT2
Priced at around $320, the RT2 is the most budget-friendly option for equipping your crews with a rugged tablet. It provides decent memory RAM and storage for your teams, making it just as viable an option as the big sellers. The casing keeps this tablet rugged and weather resistant, making it a top choice for outdoor techs.
The RT2 provides all the foundational features your crews need to perform their tasks, running on the Android operating system and providing bluetooth as well as wifi options.
Price: $320
Battery life: 3 hours
Weight: 2.27 pounds
Memory: 8 GB
Storage: 128 GB
The bottom line
Adding rugged tablets to your fleet of equipment could transform your business. Their durability and dependability combined with customers’ inclinations toward technology and education make them a great choice for any business.
But, before you commit to a rugged tablet for field work, you’ve got to do extensive research to ensure you’re getting a product that meets the needs of your techs, your customers, and your budget. Perhaps a rugged case could be enough to do the job. Take your time and you’re sure to pick a winning rugged tablet for your business!
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